Patent GB-1388111-A (GB)
Title: Engines motors pumps and compressors
IPC: F04B53/14
Filed: 1971-04-07
Abstract: 1388111 I C engines pumps and compressors EXXON RESEARCH & ENG CO 20 April 1972 [7 April 1971] 8959/71 Headings F1A F1B and F1N [Also in Division F2] An engine, motor, pump or compressor comprises a crank-shaft rotatably mounted in a frame, at least one plurality of pairs of cylinders attached to the frame, the cylinders in each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the crank-shaft axis and the pairs of cylinders being angularly and axially separated around the crank-shaft axis, the crank-shaft having one crank-pin for the or each plurality of pairs of cylinders, a disc for each pair of cylinders, each disc being rotatably mounted on the or one of the crank-pins between the cylinders of a respective cylinder pair with its geometric axis having an eccentricity relative to the crank-pin axis equal to the eccentricity of the crank-pin axis relative to the crank-shaft axis, the geometric axes of the discs on the or each crank-pin having a relative angular separation which is twice the relative angular separation of their respective cylinder pairs, adjacent discs being in contact with each other over areas bounded between their superimposed peripheries (as viewed in directions parallel to the crank-shaft axis) and rigidly connected to each other within those areas whereby all the discs on a common crank-pin rotate together, and each disc being received in a bearing aperture of a rigid yoke which extends perpendicularly to the crankshaft axis and symmetrically on both sides of the disc, there being in each cylinder a piston connected to an end of the respective yoke, and there being no gearing between any disc and any part of the frame or the crank-shaft. Pairs of pistons 19, 20 and 25,26, Figs.1 and 2, are connected by respective yokes 18,24, the two pairs being axially offset as shown in Fig.2 to separate the yokes. Eccentric discs 14,15, integral with or joined to one another and angularly displaced from one another by 180 degrees, are rotatably received in apertures 17,23 in the respective yokes and are journalled on a crank-pin 11 with an eccentricity equal to that of the crank-pin. The crank-case is split into two parts, Fig.12 (not shown), about a plane perpendicular to the crank-shaft axis and coinciding with a diametral plane of one of the pairs of cylinders. Figs.15 and 16 show an I.C. engine in which each cylinder has a rotary valve 107 co-operating with an inlet conduit 126 and an outlet conduit 127, the inlet conduit also forming a hollow drive-shaft through which the valve is driven via a belt 103 from the crank-shaft 154. The valve 107 is journalled in an inner housing 109 integral with the cylinder head 112 and an outer housing 108 which is pivoted about a pivot-pin 113. Compression springs (not shown) between a flange 1114 and opposed faces of the crank-case press the cylinder and the valve assembly outwardly against a composite bridge 120a, 120b which is connected to the crank-case by studs 118. The bridge part 120b, which is movable within limits relative to the part 120a and is secured to the latter by screws 122, presses against the outer housing 108 through a tiltable pad 123. The position of the pad 123 relative to the pivot-pin 113 is such that the force exerted on the valve 107 is just sufficient for gas sealing Fig.11 shows a built-up crank-shaft comprising a crank-pin 82 receiving a pair of eccentric discs 80 and secured between counterbalanced crank-shaft portions 84 by means of a pre-tensioned tie bolt 96. The pistons 58, Fig.7, and yoke 59 may be of magnesium alloy, with a spacer 60 of titanium or steel, the parts being held together by straps 63 of steel or titanium. In Fig.9, a steel or titanium strap 64 is trapped between the underside of a light alloy piston 58 and the yoke 59 by bolts accessible through spanner-holes 70, and the strap is tensioned by sliding a collar 71 from the broken-line position to the full-line position.